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Enumclaw continues roll through SPSL

Enumclaw’s Riley Carel takes the ball to the hoop during play with SPSL 3A rival Bonney Lake.

— image credit: Photo by Russ Larned

The Enumclaw High boy hoopsters have gotten their season to a great start, rolling over their first three opponents.

The Hornets lifted the lid on their South Puget Sound League 3A season when they hosted Bonney Lake Dec. 9 and pulverized the Panthers 66-32, thanks at least in part to junior guard Taylor Myers who poured in 21 points.

One could also chalk the triumph up to a new weapon being deployed by the 2008-09 Hornets – a stingy defense.

“We have been focusing on trying to instill a tough, aggressive defensive scheme into these guys and everyone has dialed in and focused on their roles really well,” coach Phil Engebretsen said. “The scoring always comes along as the season progresses and they get their shooting legs under them a little. The shots they are taking now aren’t bad shots, but they just aren’t dropping quite yet.”

The Hornets’ defensive stinginess was never more evident than on Friday, when they traveled down the hill to Sumner, where they used balanced scoring as well to win handily 53-28. Enumclaw doubled up on the Spartans in the first three stanzas, pulling ahead 32-16 after Sumner managed a paltry two points in the third period. Then a disciplined Hornet contingent left the Spartans in their dust, putting up 21 points in the fourth frame.

Saturday, Enumclaw braved the elements, hopped on the bus to Yelm and snuffed out the Tornado hoopsters 57-47, thanks to junior forward Jayson Lewis, who shot 9-of-10 from the floor and tickled the twine for 20 points.

The Hornets put their unbeaten record on the line Tuesday when they rolled out the red carpet for equally unbeaten Peninsula; results came too late to be included here. Enumclaw’s next trial comes at 7 p.m. Friday at Clover Park.

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